In Preferences>General: Could you uncheck "allow floating documents in expert mode"? And uncheck "enable floating document window docking"?Tell me what happens after you uncheck that, close the program and reopen it.

Also, in the editing arena, on the far right is a down-arrow at the end of the edit area, which will show you a menu of items, and one of them will be "reset all". Do that to see if this changes in the first place.

On mine, everything to uncheck is unchecked and it doesn't float a window to the top-left, it places a window in edit mode where it belongs. Let's amuse ourselves with these suggestions. Okay?

Steve-Unchecking 'allow floating documents in expert mode' and unchecking 'enable floating document window' then closing and reopen does put images in the 'edit mode' ( what I call workspace) but they are tabbed, which I don't want. Reset All (tools) or Reset Tools does nothing, as far as I can tell. I have also 'enable floating documents in expert mode checked, and unchecked 'enable floating document window', and then reversed them, with the same result - windows won't float unless I use 'layout, and or 'windows>Images>Float in all windows.

Also, in the future, in the Preferences>General: There might be a check-mark for "use shift key for tool-switch" which some pros use. You don't have to, but it's a nice system to have sometimes. And you may not need to close and reopen the program, if the "reset" button is clicked to reset your preferences, but a relaunch is sometimes better as the program gets that hint a little better sometimes.

Don't select the "reset preferences on next launch" and don't reset the "reset all warning dialogs", and don't reset the "reset auto smart-tone learning".

Like Jeffrey said, my first thought was the scroll wheel, because in Preferences>General, your "zoom with scroll wheel" is check-marked. You might uncheck that one to see if that corrects the problem. In fact, that would be my first thought to do that first. Let us know how it turns out.

I don't see a reply of Jefferys that mentions the scroll wheel, but it has no effect, other than it won't scroll. I Had reset preferences, many restarts ago, but have not reset all warnings,or smart-tone learning.. Thank you for all your suggestions.

Well, I've had it set that way for years. But, now, even if I select them , it reverts back to tabs after I close Elements, and I have to re-select both layers and windows. In Edit> preferences>general I've always had 'allow floating documents in and floating in both Layer & WIndow enabled. And until what I assume was the recent Windows 10 update, that was my 'default' workspace. Images floated. It must be the update. Thank you!

Okay, then it could be an update from Windows 10 (Elements 10 is no longer sending updates) so to reset Windows 10 (and all else) do this:

Go to Settings> Apps> Apps & Features> then highlight your program in the right column to see if it has a blue-text-link. If it does, click on that, then on its next page, on the left, will be a reset button. This is for Windows 10 to reset after an update.

If there is not a link there, then you will need to do a SFC-reset instead. For that, you need to go to your Microsoft icon (furthest left task bar) to open your program list. Look for Windows Power Shell and by clicking on it, it opens a DOS window. At its blinking cursor, type "scannow" without the quotes and press enter and let it work. It won't tell you anything but IF there is something wrong that the update made, it will reset windows. If not, nothing else happens. After the SFC-reset, reboot Windows 10 and when it has fully booted, start the program again.

For Windows 10, that's all we have aside from using the old restore feature to setup a previous date before the update but it is limited in dates, and the update can come again even if you avoid it.

Reinstalling the program will be the last suggestion, instead of the restore feature. It would happen anyway if the restore trick doesn't work.

I have Elements 15, not 10, but I imagine the support is fading regardless. I ran the WPS Admin SFC Scannow, ( scannow needs a qualifier added to the command which is why I ran it as SFC Scannow. I might try the system restore, but at this point, I guess I'll concede that Windows won this round. Thanks for your help, Steve. Much appreciated.

I apologize for mentioning 10, someone else had that. Before you run your restore, the dates may be limited. Before doing that, I would reinstall the program. You will need your software key. If you have it, upon registering the product it'll be on Adobe's site. I can give the instructions how to get that.

No worries. I have reinstalled / reinstalled, (mentioned in my original post), but I might do it again. I can get used to tabbed files, but I is a little annoying that Microsoft does that. It's not like Adobe products are some off the wall software that is bound to have compatibility issues.

Question: Do you have other versions of Photoshop or Elements? They tend to mimic each other, so check their pref's.

If this happens often something else might be is going on. To find that, the procedure is to eliminate all new add-on's or events one at a time until the problem clears. If not, go the other way, add them one at a time until the problem shows more prominent. I don't make it up, I only dig into my bag of technical rules.

As for Windows 10 updates, all Windows updated before, but most of us cut off updates in earlier versions. Windows 10 is pushy because hackers are keeping current and there are holes the hackers find which keeps us on our toes. There is a annual-summer hackers convention in San Diego which reports vulnerabilities in Windows. So in retrospect, it's the hackers who are helping to patch Windows. Most self-taught, have learned more things than software engineers.

No, I uninstalled my previous versions before I got the new laptop, so there are no traces of them in my system. I uninstalled it and found a new editing program. Maybe I'll reinstall after the next update to see if it fixes the issue. I like things to work they way they are intended, and not have to work around issues after paying for the product. Thanks for all your suggestions, though.

A workaround has been found for a similar problem after update to the last Windows 10 version:https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2438159Other users with the last OS version don't have the problem, so it would be useful to check if disabling the taskbar 'auto-hide' feature works in this case. That had solved other issues in versions before 2018.

I have the same problem with floating windows and poststamp sized initial window size:

- On PSE2018, PSE15

but not with:

- PSE14, PSE12, PSE10...

Disabling the 'auto-hide' feature of the task bar does not help.

By the way, that update was a disaster to begin with.

- About one hour (ok)- Then a blue dialog to gather my choices about privacy protection.- Impossible to enter my password for Windows (not a 'wrong password' message, but something about the process not working).- Twice used the 'change password' feature - successfully without any positive result on opening Wondows.- checking the BIOS options did not help.- Trying an hour later did not help... - A little later, I don't know why, my new password was accepted at last!

I was ready to restore my C: drive from my Acronis backup of yesterday evening.

As I mentioned in one of my previous replies, that is a workaround, but it is happens with each image I open per session, which has quickly become a nuisance. Until it's resolved, I'm using a different editing program, which, as it turns out, I like better than Elements.

To be clear, most of the Elements users don't use floating windows. You can disable that option, it's a choice of user interface and you don't lose any functionality by disabling it.I prefer to keep it and the workaround is good for me. I always open my files from the organizer. I often need to open several files at the same time, so they will appear immediately stacked in the top left small window. Then menu Window/images/float in windows. No need to repeat the process for each image, all files are in their floating window. For instance, I process a dozen files in ACR and click on 'Open'. I can reprocess them, save or print them. No time lost.

For future problems all of us need to know where to go for this option. The two of you know this option, but some of us do not. Could you run the specifics where to find this option in PSE. I am sure the 2018 version is close to the same as the PSE 14 and 15, so this could benefit nearly everybody here. I'd be willing to save it.

Hello, Steve. I haven't done that, and won't bother. Although I would like this resolved, even if I could find the specific update, or took the time to figure out which one, it wouldn't matter. I want my computer updated with whatever security patches, etc. that are released. This is either a Microsoft , or Adobe issue, and until it's fixed, I'm using a different editing program. Sour grapes, perhaps, but it's just annoying enough that it takes away from a seamless editing flow.

At this link it shows the Spring update has been messing with Adobe products, yes. But within the replies in the blog below, shows the guy did not use the work-around but instead asked for a Microsoft in-chat to restore his system and that tech used the restore feature in Windows 10 probably by an online remote session.

There is little information of what to do in the REGedit for users to fix their own root problems and when it comes to the root of Windows, it's not a good idea to send amateurs into that area without specific instructions.

I am convinced this update is the problem, but there is not a number for the Spring update and Microsoft needs to send updates that show the name or number of the update for the user to decide to allow it to install or not. Otherwise, the restore feature to an earlier date as show in this example is the only way out of this. Steve.

I agree.So, for more details about the regedit editing, there have been several detailed posts in the Elements forum. The best one for the memory issue seems to be from ssprengel (two hours ago):https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2423579Yes, we have to remind everybody that editing the registry is dangerous. I am like the majority of Elements users with 4 or 8GB RAM, so, I have no problem at all and don't need to fiddle with the registry.

For the 'postage stamp' floating windows issue, it affects Windows 15 and 2018, not versions 12 and 14.

Most users don't use the option to "open documents in floating windows in Expert mode'. Menu Edit >> preferences, general tab. So, they won't notice anything. You can always uncheck the option and work in the other Interface choice, which allows all features. Just different ways to organize your desktop layout.The partial workaround:https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2490220works very well in my case, because I always open files from the organizer and most often, several files at the same time. So, after the batch of opened files has been opened and stacked in the upper left corner, the menu "window >> images >> float All in windows' opens all files in the batch in their usual windows.This issue is very new, unlike the memory one (there were already complaints with configs with big RAM months ago).I am not optimistic about a quick solution by either Microsoft or Adobe.- Since PSE14 has not problems, that's proof that versions 15 and 2018 use different procedure calls and that Adobe could revert to the old procedures. For PSE2018, that could mean issuing an update, but that takes time. There will be no PSE15 update now.- On the Microsoft side, there is no doubt that changes in the '1803' build have triggered the issue.I imagine there will be discussions between Adobe and Microsoft about the issue, and that always take time.

Not sure where you got the notion “most users dont use the option to open documents in flowtingnwindows.....” that is about the only way I open documents just as
I have done for some 20 yearscwith photoshop. It is a very useful feature and one need to be corrected.

I could ask the same question: where do you get the notion that 'most users use floating windows'?As a matter of fact, only Adobe has ways to know that for sure.You are right, I got that notion by watching all the posts about that issue both in the Elements forum:https://forums.adobe.com/community/photoshop_elements/content?filterID=contentstatus[published]~obje...and another forum:http://photoshopelementsandmore.com/It was a kind of surprise to see that complaints were much, much fewer than complaints about the memory issue. The memory issue does not hit everybody. The floating window one hits all users of PSE2018 and PSE15 who use them. I got answers that others did not use them.On the other hand, it's not surprising because I have often to explain the real advantages of floating windows when discussing User Interface solutions. I seem to remember that that option is not activated by default. What is obvious for former Photoshop users is not for typical Elements users.

I have always used floating windows, e.g. to enlarge and compare the quality of similar images side by side. The current glitch is driving me mad. If you allow the windows to open postage sized and then select 'float all windows' in the layout box in the bottom bar in PSE15, they 'float' in a downward cascade and cover the panel bin, making it impossible to select the images you want to look at. The 'default' pinned layout leaves the panel bin clear, but does not allow side-by-side comparison. Would Adobe and Microsoft please prioritise issuing a solution.

Yes, I agree it's a huge problem.Since the issue does not appear with Elements 14, I have set it to be the 'external' editor for the organizer.(I have made a copy of the 'PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe' file of PSE14 in the same folder and referenced this file as the external editor).

Recently, I've considered upgrading to PSE 18, but after hearing that this same problem (no floating documents and thumbnail previews) in this newest version tells me "Oh Hell No".Why would I pay good money just to be saddled with the same 'issues' that both Adobe and Windows seem oblivious (or uncaring) to rectify?

I got so fed up with the 'tiny thumbnails' problem that I have actually downgraded. I uninstalled PSE15. My most recent earlier version was PSE11, so I have upgraded that to PSE14 which still works perfectly. My sanity is restored, but I deeply resent having to spend good money on an earlier software version. I am astonished that two enormous tech companies seen unwilling or unable to resolve this issue. Not exactly a shining example of customer service!

It took me a while to realise this wasn't something I'd done! It is exceedingly frustrating - I like images to open consolidated to tabs but then I want to drag them to float in windows - unfortunately the only way to make that happen is to disable floating/dragging altogether in the preferences so you can't do it at all. it wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't just a teeny square up there top left, covering the controls. Pity there isn't a preference option to choose how images open instead of it being left to some corrupted default feature...

Thanks Michel. It got to be such a 'pain' working w/out floating windows that I tried your Ctrl key workaround. I've got my Floating Windows back!!!! Is it the right way to do it?........No. Does it work?......Yes.Now I've got a decision to make. I'm thinking of getting Photoshop CC in lieu of my present PSE15. I'm just 'concerned' that I'm going to be once again forced to use a backdoor-type shortcut to load my files, instead of the way the program was optimally designed.